Leo Messi and MLS champs Inter Miami get trounced 3-0 by Denis Bouanga and LAFC in season opener
#Messi#Inter Miami#LAFC#MLS season opener#David Martínez#Denis Bouanga#MLS Cup defense#Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
📌 Key Takeaways
Inter Miami began their MLS Cup title defense with a 3-0 loss to LAFC
The match drew 75,673 fans, the second-largest crowd in MLS history
Messi played through a hamstring strain but is still adjusting to new teammates
LAFC's new head coach Marc Dos Santos won his MLS debut in emphatic fashion
📖 Full Retelling
Lionel Messi and reigning MLS champions Inter Miami suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Los Angeles FC in their season opener at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night, February 21, 2026, as they began their title defense with a lackluster performance against one of the league's top contenders. The match featured goals from David Martínez, Denis Bouanga, and Nathan Ordaz, with Son Heung-min providing the assist for the opening goal in front of a massive crowd of 75,673 spectators, the second-largest in MLS history. The historic venue, located next to LAFC's regular home at BMO Stadium, was chosen by MLS Commissioner Don Garber to showcase the sport during what he described as 'a seminal year in the history of our sport.' Despite the loss, Messi played through a strained hamstring, though his performance was hampered by ongoing chemistry issues with new teammates following the departures of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to retirement. Inter Miami's new goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair particularly struggled, with a positioning mistake greatly simplifying Bouanga's goal in the 73rd minute.
Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami (lit. 'Miami International Football Club'), commonly referred to as Inter Miami, is an American professional soccer club based in Miami. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. Inter Miami plays their home matches at Mi...
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi (born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history, Messi has set numerous records for indiv...
Denis Athanase Bouanga (born 11 November 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger and forward for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC. Born in France, he plays for the Gabon national team.
Bouanga began his career in France, making 136 Ligue 1 appearances for Lorient, Nîmes and S...
American professional soccer club based in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) is an American professional soccer club based in Los Angeles. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. It was established on October 30, 2014, and began play in the 2018 season as an expansion team.
This match is significant because it demonstrates that Inter Miami's MLS Cup title defense faces immediate and formidable challenges, with LAFC emerging as a primary contender. The high-profile game also showcased the league's growing popularity, drawing the second-largest crowd in MLS history.
Context & Background
Inter Miami is the defending MLS Cup champion
LAFC improved its record to 9-0-0 in season openers
The match drew 75,673 fans, the second-largest crowd in MLS history
Messi played despite a recent hamstring strain
Inter Miami lost key players Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to retirement
What Happens Next
Inter Miami will play at Orlando on March 1 for their next MLS match. LAFC will host Real España on Tuesday for the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored for LAFC in the match?
David Martínez, Denis Bouanga, and Nathan Ordaz scored for LAFC.
What was the final score?
LAFC defeated Inter Miami 3-0.
Did Lionel Messi play in the game?
Yes, Lionel Messi played despite dealing with a strained hamstring.
Original Source
Leo Messi and MLS champs Inter Miami get trounced 3-0 by Denis Bouanga and LAFC in season opener Lionel Messi and Inter Miami got off to a rough start in their MLS Cup title defense when David Martínez, Denis Bouanga and Nathan Ordaz scored in Los Angeles FC’s 3-0 victory By GREG BEACHAM AP sports writer February 21, 2026, 11:55 PM LOS ANGELES -- Lionel Messi and Inter Miami got off to a rough start in their MLS Cup title defense when David Martínez, Denis Bouanga and Nathan Ordaz scored in Los Angeles FC's 3-0 victory Saturday night. Son Heung-min set up Martínez's opening goal for LAFC, which emphasized its status as a primary threat to Miami's crown during a lively MLS season opener between two of the league's marquee clubs. The matchup drew 75,673 fans — the second-largest crowd in MLS history — to the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which is next-door to LAFC’s home BMO Stadium. “This game would have sold out five times at BMO, but we wanted to do something special,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. “This is a seminal year in the history of our sport and a big moment in the history of our league, so why not go into this historic stadium, bring Miami here, our champion, and have them play against LAFC?” The huge crowd got an entertaining match and a good look at Messi, who played despite dealing with a strained hamstring this month. His every move was greeted with cheers and boos by the California fans. The superstar is still working out his dynamic with his new teammates, however: The Herons lost Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to retirement and added forward Germán Berterame and elite MLS goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, whose positioning mistake greatly simplified Bouanga’s goal. LAFC won for head coach Marc Dos Santos in his MLS debut as the third head coach in club history . The former Vancouver head coach and longtime LAFC assistant led his team to a 6-1 win over Real España earlier this week in its CONCACAF Champions Cup opener in Honduras. LAFC went a...
